Search | Menu Madison College Recognized for Student Parent Supports
The campuses of Madison College include a wide array of students at different stages of life including students who are juggling their course load with parenting responsibilities. And many of them also have the added responsibility of full or part-time jobs.
At Madison College, supporting our student parents is not just an investment in their education; it’s an investment in the future of their families and their communities. And we’re not alone in this belief.
Generation Hope, an organization focused on ensuring student parents have the opportunities to succeed and experience economic mobility, recently announced recipients of its prestigious FamilyU seal. Madison College is one of thirteen higher ed institutions (and one of only five community colleges) awarded the official seal, reflecting our ongoing commitment to improving student parent supports and outcomes. The selected institutions and organizations have shown a strong commitment to investing in student parents and fostering environments that better serve this population.
“We’re proud to be recognized as a higher ed institution that champions our student parents,” says Madison College Executive Vice President and FamilyU team lead Sylvia Ramirez. “Student parents embody a special kind of resilience and dedication, and it’s our continued priority to create a culture of care that supports them. We know our investment in supporting parents and their children will pay dividends for generations.”
At Madison College this is about more than the seal and recognition. It’s about our student parents who are pursuing their dreams, setting an example for their kids and making a difference in our communities.
The seal honors our commitment to support the journeys of students like Lai’Kita, Sabrina and Lena who have all benefitted from the College’s Retention Initiatives and Student Engagement (RISE) programs which support the success of a range of high-promise students including student parents.
Lai’Kita is a Madison College sophomore studying in the Liberal Arts/Social Sciences program. She has plans to transfer to UW Madison to become a music therapist for children. Lai’Kita also happens to be a parent of young children who she credits with inspiring her to continue her education.
“Being a parent has impacted me by making sure I set an example for my children,” she explained. “I can’t tell them to do good in school and not lead by example.”
Sabrina is a mother of two, with children aged 20 and 17 balancing being a working mother, wife and student. Earlier experiences with education were characterized by struggles as she dealt with an undiagnosed learning disability. Returning to the classroom was her way of reshaping her negative associations with education.
She says that her goal is to inspire her children to embrace challenges, recognize their potential, and excel in their pursuits. Sabrina adds, “To fellow parents, I would offer the advice to relish the journey, take it one step at a time, and don't forget to practice self-care. Afterall, you are doing what many consider impossible.”
Lena is at Madison College getting her nursing degree while also raising three children as a single mom. She is also a first gen college student hoping to set an example for her children. Like Sabrina and Lai’Kita, she says that her children inspire her to pursue her education.
Lena acknowledges that the journey is not an easy one and tries to manage the challenges by being flexible – both as a parent and a student.
She encourages other student parents to take the time to build relationships with their child's school, as well as their school and place of work to be able to access help and resources that they may provide.
“It's not always going to be easy and many times I questioned what I was doing,” Lena shares. “The thing is to know what you want then to start picking away at little goals to achieve the ultimate goal you desire. Keep focus one step at a time no matter how long it may take you. You got this!”
The recognition from FamilyU is acknowledgement that we’re on the right track at Madison College and we’re certainly proud of that. But we’re even more proud of the student parents like Lai’Kita, Sabrina and Lena and the hurdles that they are overcoming on their journey.
